Mobile Device Sensor Fusion for Wireless Signal Blockage Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless communication systems face issues with communication path loss due to objects blocking RF signals, leading to incomplete or failed data transmission, and rely on retry mechanisms that increase power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device equipped with sensors, cameras, and transceivers determines if an object is blocking communication by analyzing sensor data, image data, and audio data, and adjusts its scanning cycle or retries communication when the object is moved to resolve the blockage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional retry mechanisms are used to ensure successful wireless communication, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of blocking objects using sensors (camera, microphone, proximity sensor) before initiating wireless communication. This preliminary action identifies potential communication blockages in advance, allowing the system to prevent failed communication attempts and unnecessary retries, thereby improving reliability while reducing power consumption by avoiding futile retry cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the communication environment using multiple sensors and provides feedback about detected blocking objects. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically adjust communication attempts based on real-time environmental conditions, stopping retries when blockages are detected and resuming when paths are clear, thus optimizing both reliability and power efficiency
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and cameras are activated to detect blocking objects, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple existing sensors (camera, microphone, proximity sensor, accelerometer) that already exist in mobile devices, making them serve dual purposes: their original functions plus blocking object detection. This multi-functionality approach improves detection precision without significantly increasing device complexity, as the sensors are already integrated into the device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the functions of multiple sensors to collectively detect and characterize blocking objects. By combining data from the camera (visual detection), microphone (acoustic detection), proximity sensor (distance measurement), and accelerometer (device orientation), the system achieves high detection precision through sensor fusion, while managing complexity by integrating these functions into a unified detection framework
Data Source
AI summary
In aspects of determining blocked wireless communication between devices, a mobile device wirelessly communicates with a wireless device. The mobile device can receive partial data or no data from the wireless device responsive to the wireless communication. The mobile device activates sensors to obtain sensor data based on receiving the partial or no data from the wireless device. The mobile device can then determine whether an object is positioned or located between the mobile device and the wireless device based on the sensor data, and determine that the object is likely blocking the wireless communication based on the object being positioned or located between the devices. The mobile device can then display a notification that the wireless communication is being blocked based on the determination that the object is likely blocking the wireless communication.